a dark pink sparkly background with a Leftist Teen Drama black logo and black text overlaying pieces of tan tape: “RIP James Van Der Beek Emergency Special Ep” with five photos of James Van Der Beek from the following screen roles: Dawson’s Creek, How I Met Your Mother, Overcompensating, Varsity Blues, Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23, and One Tree Hill.

EMERGENCY SPECIAL EP OUT NOW honoring the life and work of teen drama icon James Van Der Beek, who sadly passed away at the age of 48 on February 11, 2026 after a battle with colorectal cancer. Thanks to recurring guest Kelly Gilbert for submitting a reflection! #LeftistTeenDrama

Leftist Teen Drama on Instagram: "Well, it’s the first Sunday without a new ep of #LeftistTeenDrama, so I think it’s about time to say: that’s a wrap on Leftist Teen Drama’s 2025 run! In 2025, I rel... 9 likes, 0 comments - leftistteendrama on December 28, 2025: "Well, it’s the first Sunday without a new ep of #LeftistTeenDrama, so I think it’s about time to say: that’s a wrap on Leftist Teen Drama’...

Well, it’s the first Sunday without a new ep of #LeftistTeenDrama, so it’s about time to say: that’s a wrap on Leftist Teen Drama’s 2025 run! Check out our IG post for a roundup and reflection on this year's 16(!) eps! we'll see y'all with new eps in 2026 <3

www.instagram.com/p/DS0BZ8vkSx...

a page out of a film junk journal with a collage spread for the movie SAMANTHA: AN AMERICAN GIRL HOLIDAY watched november 28, 2025. The collage includes vintage Christmas tag imagery and screencaps of the movie.

My 2025 film journal entry for Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, the latest #LeftistTeenDrama movie special w/ @mariadip.bsky.social feat Mo and Christina from Movies That Raised Us! (now streaming wherever you get your podcasts!)

💗MOVIE SPECIAL CLIP💗 Samantha Parkington’s speech bringing attention to child labor in American factories? An absolute slay! Our latest #LeftistTeenDrama Movie Special on Samantha: An American Girl Holiday, with @mariadip.bsky.social feat Mo & Christina from Movies That Raised Us, is now streaming!

a glittery graphic with screengrabs from the O.C. Christmas episode in Season 1, including the iconic Christmas card of Sandy, Kirsten, Seth, and Ryan; and text that reads “Leftist Teen Drama Holiday Episode Guide.”

#LeftistTeenDrama Episode Guide: Holiday Edition

We updated our guide from a couple years ago for your binging pleasure: www.instagram.com/p/DSkRSqAkbq...

Which teen drama holiday episode your favorite? (Including any we may have missed?!)

Hosted by @mariadip.bsky.social, produced by @ducksanddabs.bsky.social, with art by Charles O’Leary, the latest #LeftistTeenDrama Movie Special is now streaming wherever you get podcasts!

🚨TRAILER DROP🚨 The fifth #LeftistTeenDrama Movie Special covering 'Samantha: An American Girl Holiday,' with @mariadip.bsky.social feat Mo and Christina from the Movies That Raised Us podcast, premieres Sunday, December 21, 2025, everywhere you get your podcasts.

a screencap from the movie Samantha: An American Girl Holiday of Samantha Parkington giving a speech in front of a banner that reads “progress.”. White text reading “MOVIE REVEAL: Samantha: An American Girl Holiday” and the Leftist Teen Drama overlay the screencap.

MOVIE REVEAL: our last #LeftistTeenDrama Movie Special of the year is…Samantha: An American Girl Holiday!

Our holiday special with @mariadip.bsky.social featuring Mo and Christina from Movies That Raised Us premieres on Sunday, Dec 21!

We discuss all the political complexities explored on the two shows, ending with a lot more questions than answers.

Hosted by @mariadip.bsky.social, produced by @ducksanddabs.bsky.social, w/ art by Charles O’Leary, Episode 44 of #LeftistTeenDrama is now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

a stylized light purple collage-y episode cover with an image of the five Derry Girls main characters in their school uniforms overlaid with Marian and Dolours Price on Say Nothing; along with text: “Leftist Teen Drama,” “The Politics of Coming of Age in Northern Ireland During the Troubles as a Catholic Teen Girl, As Seen On ‘Say Nothing’ and ‘Derry Girls’” feat Kelly Gilbert and Mick Gilbert” and “Ep 44.”

✨EP 44 OUT NOW✨ In the #LeftistTeenDrama Season 5 finale, Maria is joined by twins Kelly Gilbert and Mick Gilbert to contrast the experiences of Catholic teenage girls coming of age in Belfast and Derry during The Troubles on Say Nothing and Derry Girls.

💖TRAILER DROP💖 The Politics of Coming of Age in Northern Ireland During the Troubles as a Catholic Teen Girl, As Seen On ‘Say Nothing’ and ‘Derry Girls’ | @mariadip.bsky.social feat Kelly Gilbert and Mick Gilbert

Episode #44 of #LeftistTeenDrama – our Season 5 finale – premieres Sun, Dec 14!

Hosted by Maria DiPasquale, produced by Jeff McHale, with art by Charles O’Leary, Episode 43 of #LeftistTeenDrama is now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

a stylized lime green collage-y episode cover with an image of the principal and teachers on Saved By The Bell in the background and Zack and Slater in the foreground; along with text: “Leftist Teen Drama,” “Bayside Teachers Deserve Better: The ‘Saved By The Bell’ Teachers’ Strike Episode” feat Diana Hussein” and “Ep 43.”

✨EP 43 OUT NOW✨ In the penultimate episode of #LeftistTeenDrama Season 5, @mariadip.bsky.social is joined by fellow union comms girlie @dianah.bsky.social to dive into the #SavedByTheBell Teachers’ Strike episode.

💖TRAILER DROP💖 Bayside Teachers Deserve Better: The ‘Saved By The Bell’ Teachers’ Strike Episode | @mariadip.bsky.social feat @dianah.bsky.social

Episode #43 of #LeftistTeenDrama premieres Sun, Dec 7, everywhere you get your podcasts!

Happy #CampRock3 Teaser Day to all who celebrate, from your #LeftistTeenDrama host @mariadip.bsky.social and #CampRock correspondents Kelly and M Gilbert!

Leftist Teen Drama 2025 Spotify Wrapped Listening time up 48%; top country US; top fans, 6; followers up 22%

Spotify Wrapped For Creators Leftist Teen Drama 2025 growth 157% up - total audience 999% up - total new audience 48% up - listening time

Forget about my personal Spotify Wrapped — the #LeftistTeenDrama #SpotifyWrapped is what I truly look forward to every year! Absolutely in awe of the growth our little podcast has experienced in 2025. From the bottom of my heart, thanks for listening 🥹 -@mariadip.bsky.social

💗EP 42 CLIP💗On the latest episode of #LeftistTeenDrama, Maria and Dondré break down the short-lived student protest movement on #ADifferentWorld Season 2, Episode 10, “Radio Free Hillman.”

Hosted by @mariadip.bsky.social, produced by Jeff McHale, with art by Charles O’Leary, Episode 42 of #LeftistTeenDrama is now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

💖TRAILER DROP💖 ‘They Censored His Radio Show!’: Hillman College Students Stage a Sit-In on ‘A Different World’ | @mariadip.bsky.social feat Dondré Taylor-Stewart

Episode #42 of #LeftistTeenDrama premieres Sun, Nov 30, everywhere you get your podcasts! #ADifferentWorld

LEFTIST TEEN DRAMA GUIDE “Thanksgiving” teen drama episodes (aka the only good thing about this colonial holiday) with a screenshot of a Gossip Girl Thanksgiving ep with the subtitles: (Jason Derulo and Imogen Heap) MM, WHATCHA SAY?

#LeftistTeenDrama Episode Guide: Thanksgiving Edition

Fuck a colonial holiday, but we love a chaotic teen drama Thanksgiving episode!

(Watch My Life with the Walter Boys 1x05 to learn more about why our Native comrades call it a Day of Mourning!)

Not so hot take: neither #TheSummerITurnedPretty nor #WeWereLiars are “silly little summer shows.”

On both #LeftistTeenDrama Ep 39 and Ep 41, Maria and guests Jillian, Abir, and Kelly went on tangents about some of the teen drama discourse from Summer 2025!

Hosted by @mariadip.bsky.social, produced by @ducksanddabs.bsky.social, with art by Charles O’Leary, Episode 41 of #LeftistTeenDrama is now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

💖TRAILER DROP💖 A Summer Romance Teen Drama Set in the Imperial Core: Postcolonial Class Consciousness in ‘We Were Liars’ Season 1 | @mariadip.bsky.social feat Kelly Diaz

Episode #41 of #LeftistTeenDrama premieres Sun, Nov 23, everywhere you get your podcasts!

a page out of a film junk journal with a collage spread for the movie CAMP ROCK (2008) watched july 10, 2025. The collage includes colorful backgrounds and lake and music injury alongside stills from the movie and bead letters that read “THIS IS REAL THIS IS ME” and a collage cut out that reads “classism,” with a background of a light pink notebook paper.

My 2025 film journal entry for #CampRock, the latest #LeftistTeenDrama movie special w/ Maria feat Kelly and MG! (now streaming wherever you get your podcasts!)

💗EP 40 CLIP💗 To this day, Amy’s storyline on #FreaksandGeeks remains a groundbreaking depiction of intersex representation. @mariadip.bsky.social and @magsmclaugh.bsky.social break it all down on #LeftistTeenDrama Ep 40, now streaming wherever you get podcasts!

Hosted by @mariadip.bsky.social, produced by @ducksanddabs.bsky.social, with art by Charles O’Leary, Episode 40 of #LeftistTeenDrama is now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

💖TRAILER DROP💖 Inside the Fleeting Yet Inherently Political World of ‘Freaks and Geeks’ | @mariadip.bsky.social feat Margaret McCaughlin

Episode #40 of #LeftistTeenDrama premieres Sun, Nov 16, everywhere you get your podcasts!

💗EP 39 CLIP💗 Benny’s queer journey, from reckoning with his identity to slowly beginning to share it with the world, is unrushed and maybe that’s part of why it feels so genuine!

@mariadip.bsky.social, Abir, & Jillian break down #Overcompensating Season 1 on #LeftistTeenDrama Ep 39, now streaming!

Hosted by Maria DiPasquale, produced by Jeff McHale, with art by Charles O’Leary, Episode 39 of #LeftistTeenDrama is now streaming everywhere you get your podcasts.

💖TRAILER DROP💖 Benny Scanlon’s Millennial Queer College Journey On ‘Overcompensating’ (So Far) | @mariadip.bsky.social feat Abir Mohammad and Jillian Bonanne

Episode #39 of #LeftistTeenDrama premieres Sun, Nov 9, everywhere you get your podcasts! #Overcompensating